Improvement in stalk-cutters



I 2 sheets-sheen; M. W. & P. RESS'ER,

VSTALK-CUTTERS.

No. 193,997, Patente'd'Aug. 7,1877;

. ZS1 1e,etsSheetZ. M. W. & P. RESSER.

STALK-CUTTE RS No 193,997; Pat ented Aug. 7.1877

Hill lmllmmlL :A'l ES I IM'PROVEMENTJN STALK-CUTTER'S.

Specification forming part of Lette1's*:Patent No.mh93,991?., dated August 7, 1877; application filed December 16, 1876.

Toad]. whom it may concern:

Be it known thattwe, Moses W.RESSER and PHILLIP RESSER, of Geneseo, in the county of Henry, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStalk-Cutters; and do hereby declare that thefollowin g is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, inwhich-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved machine arranged for use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower side of the same, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of its rear side.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of our invention is to enable corn-stalks to be easily and thoroughly divided into such lengths as not to interfere with the cultivation of the soil.

It consists, principally in the means employed for changing the angle of operation of the cutters and for removing the same from contact with the ground, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in the machine as a whole, its several parts being constructed and combined to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as is hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the axle of our machine, jointed near its center, so as to be capable of vertical flexibility, and supported upon or by means of threegroundwheels,B, one of which is journaled upon each end of said axle. The third wheel is journaled at its longitudinal center.

At suitable points upon the front side of the axle A, near its ends and at each side of its center, are pivoted the ends of four bars, 0, which from thence extend horizontally forward, and at their front ends are connected together by means of a cross-bar, D,which latter is jointed at its longitudinal center.

The center barsOextend forward of the cross bar D, and upon such extended portions is secured a metal plate, E, which is jointed at its center, and has attached to its lower side, at said joint, the rear end of a pole, F.

When the device thus-constructed is drawn forward over uneven ground, the central joint ards, K, which standards are secured within and extend upward from the axle A, and have their upper ends connected together by means of a cross-bar, L.

The outer end of the shaft I is provided with a pinion, M-, which meshes with and receives motion from a gear-wheel, N ,.that is secured upon the inner face'of the contiguous outer ground-wheel B. The pinion M is arranged to slide lengthwise of the shaft 1, and by means of a lever, O, and rod P, may be moved into or out of engagement with the gear-wheel N.

If now the pinion M is caused to engage with the gear-Wheel N, and the machine is moved forward, the motion of the ground- Wheel B will be communicated through said pinion and gear-wheel to the shaft I, and the bar H caused to reciprocate vertically.

A cutter, H, being attached to the lower end of the bar H, and arranged with its cutting-edge in a line with the axle, the operating mechanism will causesaid cutter to strike the ground once each ten inches of forward motion, and, by such blow, any corn-stalks resting on the ground will be cut into pieces.

center-wheel B, by use of which lever the driver can turn said axle forward or rearward, and with it move the operative mechanism, so

as to cause the cutter-bar H to be farther.

from or nearer to a perpendicular line.

When the inclination of the cutter-bars are YTENT adjusted they are secured in place by means of a pawl and lever, g, which are secured to one side of the operating-leverQ, and engage with a toothed quadrant, R, that is attached to one of the bars 0.

To render the operation of the cutters most effective, it is necessary that they should strike the corn-stalks at a right angle, and this can only be effected by arranging said stalks in aline with the draft.

' The desired arrangement of the stalks is secured by means of a forkeddrag or rake, S, which is pivoted at one end to or upon the forward portion of the frame, and from thence extends rearward and downward to the ground directlyin frontof each chopper. The weight of each drag should be sufficient to cause the corn-stalks to assume positions in a line with the draft, but not suffieient to cause said stalks to be carried along with the machine. When not needed for straightening the stalks, the rakes S may he raised from contact with the ground by means of a cord,s, that is secured to each rake at a point in rear of its pivotal bearing, and passing upward to some point in convenient reach of the hand of the operator.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of our invention, what we claim as new 1s- 1. In combination with the axle A, pivoted frame-bars C, and cutter-bars H, the lever Q, spring-pawl q, and toothed segment R, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The hereinbefore-described stalk-cutter, in which are combined the longitudinallyjointed supporting-frame A, G, D, and E, the ground-wheels B, the pivoted bearing-blocks G, thecutter-bars E[,thecutters H,the crankshafts I i, the pinions M, and. gear-wheels N, said parts being constructed and arranged'to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as shown.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this 1st day of December, 1876.

MOSES W. RESSER. PHILLIP RESSER.

Witnesses F. B. BRAINARD, FRED. W. WILSHIRE. 

